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.That was the only way he’d have learned to trust her, if he was even capable of doing so.But she’d foolishly followed her own impulses.Her own sense of immediate connection.How flawed it had been.In listening to her emotion, to her complete intuition that this man was perfect for her, she’d done things that led to their both being hurt.And Jenna, sweet, golden-haired Jenna without a father all these months.Hearing her daughter’s voice babbling down the hall, Delanie reached for her robe.The movement brought her gaze down to the ring on the quilt, the lovely, heart-shaped diamond.Large, but not obscene, it twinkled in the sunlight like a living thing.Sadness and bitterness welled up inside her.Tugging on the robe, she went down the short hall.In Jenna’s sunny bedroom, she found the baby standing in her bed, vocalizing with a broad smile on her face.“Good morning, sweetie,” she said, lifting her daughter for a hug.As always, the warm, wiggly body brought her comfort.The situation couldn’t be as bad as it seemed, not as long as she had her daughter.If Mitchell was willing to marry her in order to live with his baby, he must at least care a little for their child.And could he marry her, if he really believed so badly of her?Unless, he was after something else.They were sleeping together already, so it wasn’t sex he was after.Too, a man like Mitchell didn’t have trouble finding bed partners.So what else could he be after?Delanie placed the baby on her changing table and lifted a hand to smack herself on the forehead.The Cedars.If Mitchell married her and took on the role of Jenna’s stepfather, perhaps had another child with her, he’d be able to make sure the resort stayed in his family.As business strategies went, she had to give him credit, Delanie thought bitterly.But just because she’d stupidly fallen in love with the guy, didn’t keep her from wanting to smack him.She wasn’t sure how to sort out the tangle, but one thing was perfectly clear.She couldn’t marry Mitchell.Not even for Jenna.She couldn’t let him be convinced that love and money were always linked and he would be convinced of that fact, if she gave into her stupid heart’s longing and married him.Somehow, she had to find the strength to refuse the proposal of the only man she’d ever loved.******Mitchell traversed the hall leading to Donovan’s office.Not four hours ago, he’d crawled out of Delanie’s warm bed and snuck away from her cottage, determined to protect his infant daughter from the kind of sordid display so many children lived with daily.His Jenna wouldn’t wake up to find a strange man in mommy’s bed.Soon he’d have a right to be there, waking up every morning in the middle of a family.Just now as he was finishing his breakfast in his suite, he’d received a message from Delanie, asking him to meet her in Donovan’s lair.He smiled, satisfaction pervading his body.He couldn’t think of her warm, sleep-kissed face without wanting to take her into his arms.Even though he knew her basic nature, he still felt himself drawn to her warmth.He was a fool.Pausing at the door of his grandfather’s office, he congratulated himself on his plan.In one step, he’d gained daily access to his child and secured her mother’s cooperation on a prenuptial agreement that he would make sure settled The Cedar’s ownership on Jenna.In addition, he’d bought himself a wife whose slightest smile drove his passion into the explosive range.For better or worse, he’d make love to her every night.She might not really love him, might not be capable of seeing past the dollar signs, but he’d do his damnedest to make the marriage work.Going into the office, he spotted Delanie there, seated in the chair behind his grandfather’s massive rosewood desk.“Good morning,” he said, his gaze lingering on her.She sat behind the desk, her sleek red-gold hair framing her beautiful face, her slender curves discreet in a dress of some kind of rust-colored fabric.Despite the surprisingly serious expression on her face, she looked as sexy and desirable as usual.“Good morning, Mitchell.” The generous curve of her mouth settled into a straight line, still soft, but unsmiling.His gazed dropped to the desk top where Delanie held a small black velvet jeweler’s box, her fingers fidgeting over the soft fabric.A streak of cold bolted through him, settling in his gut with a thump.He shut the door behind him.What could be the matter? Was she planning to up the ante now after he’d spent another glorious night in her arms? Would she demand he make her a financial settlement? Maybe refuse to sign the prenup despite her earlier agreement to do so?He’d thought she agreed too quickly.Now that she had him by the throat, she was changing the game?“You look serious this morning,” he said, keeping his tone light.“I am.” She cleared her throat, the muscles of her neck working.“I—I can’t marry you.”Mitchell sat down in the chair facing the desk, not even blinking at her announcement.It was just the initial salvo in what he knew would be a long game of move and counter-move.He’d done this a thousand times in the way of business.Despite his experience with the process, he’d never much liked negotiation.Now, he discovered he hated it.“You can’t marry me?” He reached across the desk and covered her fidgeting hands with one of his own.She swallowed hard, pulling away from his touch.“No.”Controlling his urge to demand what the hell she was up to, he took a moment to calm his hammering pulse.“I could point out that we’re perfectly suited lovers, but that isn’t the problem, is it?” he said softly.“Tell me the obstacles to our marriage and let me find a way to make them disappear.”Delanie looked at him for a long moment, something like sadness in her green eyes.Slowly, she drew her hands farther away from his, leaving the ring box on the desk between them.“Mitchell,” she said, very deliberately, “I remember everything now.My memory came back completely this morning when I woke up.”Consternation flashed through him at her words, quickly followed by anger.So this was the way they were going to play the game.He’d have expected something better of her than this first-she-doesn’t-remember, now-she-does game.Letting his irritation get the better of him, he feigned ignorance himself, saying in a puzzled tone.“You remember everything?”A sorrowful smile quirked her lips.“Yes.Everything that happened between us eighteen months ago.”He stared at her, allowing some of the grimness he felt to seep into his expression.Her laugh was short.“Don’t try and convince me that you’re disassociating now.You know exactly what I’m talking about.”His brain raced through the possible scenarios as he mentally swore at the beautiful woman across the desk.Over and over, she’d played him like a sucker, always tempting and elusive, giving him just a taste of what he wanted before yanking on the line to set the hook in his mouth.“I can’t marry you,” she said again, the words soft and grieving.He leaned back in his chair, saying coolly, “Why not? We have great sex and several other…mutual interests.”He had to be in his child’s life and their marriage was the best way to accomplish this goal.Lengthy custody battles scarred children.Beautiful, sweet Jenna wouldn’t have to deal with the trauma of her parents fighting over her.He’d make sure of it.Delanie’s gaze fell.“Yes, we do have wonderful sex.I never knew lovemaking could be as beautiful.”The surge of satisfaction brought by her words couldn’t be denied.Mitchell tried to ignore the sensation and waited for her next move.“But I still can’t marry you,” she said
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